The battlefield still trembled from the last crash of Blastoise's defeat, the dust only just beginning to settle. The crowd was louder than ever, chanting Ray's name, others chanting for Ritchie, the stadium torn in two by passion.
On the field, Pikachu—Ritchie's beloved partner, Sparky—landed gracefully, sparks flickering from its cheeks. The yellow mouse narrowed its eyes at Pidgeot, wings still spread wide in dominance. The air itself vibrated between them.
Ritchie clenched his fist. This is it… Sparky has never failed me. We'll turn this around.Ray, however, stood calm, arms crossed loosely. Inside, his mind was razor sharp, his plan already locked in place.
The referee's voice cut through the air:"Round two, begin!"
Immediately, Sparky shot forward in a burst of lightning-fast speed, zig-zagging across the field, the static crackling under its paws. Pidgeot, eyes glowing with hidden power from all the Dragon Dances, launched into the skies with a mighty flap, effortlessly avoiding the sparks that rained across the battlefield.
Ritchie smirked. "What's wrong, Ray? Just flying around? You think dodging will win you this fight?"
The crowd chuckled nervously, some siding with Ritchie's taunts. On the screen, the commentators spoke quickly:
"Pidgeot is moving beautifully, but… Ray hasn't landed a single strike yet.""Exactly. Ritchie's Pikachu is famous for its endurance. If Ray wastes too much time, fatigue could catch up to Pidgeot!"
Ray's expression tightened ever so slightly, feigning irritation. His voice sharpened, loud enough for Ritchie and the crowd to hear:"Pidgeot! Enough dodging—Quick Attack, now!"
The majestic bird tucked its wings and dove in a blur of silver, a streak of speed aimed right at Pikachu.
Ritchie's grin widened. He had been waiting for this moment. "You got impatient, Ray! That'll cost you the match! Sparky—Thunder!!"
The stadium shook as Pikachu released a massive column of lightning that tore upward, splitting the sky itself with white-blue brilliance. The thunderbolt engulfed Pidgeot head-on—at least, that's what it looked like.
"Got him!!" Ritchie shouted, already clenching his fist in victory.
But then…
Ray's lips curled into a smile.
"What—?!" Ritchie froze.
The lightning cleared—and in Pidgeot's place stood a glowing Substitute, crackling with electricity as it crumbled into dust.
High above, the real Pidgeot had vanished into the smoke. Its wings shimmered as it dived from behind with the speed of a predator, talons sharp, eyes blazing.
"Now—Aerial Ace!" Ray commanded with steel in his voice.
Before Pikachu could react, the powerful strike slammed into its back with devastating force, launching it across the field like a ragdoll. Sparks burst violently from its body as it hit the ground, skidding and tumbling until it lay crumpled, eyes dazed.
"SPARKY!!" Ritchie's voice cracked with panic, his confident smirk utterly shattered.
The crowd gasped in shock, the replay screens showing exactly how Ray had set up the perfect trap: feigned frustration, reckless aggression, all to bait the Thunder and punish with a deadly counter.
Ray gave no time to breathe. "Follow it up—Wing Attack! Then another Aerial Ace!"
Pidgeot became a whirlwind of feathers and speed, strikes raining down one after another. Pikachu cried out with each blow, unable to regain footing. Sparks tried to flare, but every attempt was drowned in the storm of attacks.
The referee's whistle blared sharply, cutting through the chaos."Pikachu is unable to battle! Pidgeot is the winner!"
The stadium exploded—half in cheers of awe, half in stunned silence at the one-sided dominance.
Ritchie dropped to his knees for a moment, fists trembling. His partner—his strongest, his pride—defeated so decisively. He looked up at Ray, bitterness tightening his chest."I… I fell for it. That wasn't luck, it was your trap all along…"
Ray simply gave him a calm nod, his gaze steady. "Battles aren't just about strength, Ritchie. They're about control."
Ritchie's teeth ground together. He wanted to scream, to deny it, but deep down he knew Ray was right. Raising Sparky's Poké Ball, he whispered, "You fought your hardest. Rest well, my friend." A red beam recalled Pikachu, and Ritchie slowly stood.
His voice, though heavy, was steady as he raised a hand. "I admit defeat. With just Ivysaur left, I can't defeat Pidgeot—let alone your Charizard and Dragonair."
The crowd respected the gesture, clapping for his honesty, though whispers of shock filled the air.
Before Ray could even react, movement caught his eye from the edge of the battlefield.
"Kira?"
From the tunnel, still pale but determined, Kira dashed forward. Before he could say a word, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly."You did it, Ray! You really did it!" she said, her voice trembling with pride.
Ray blinked, surprised, but then softened, gently patting her back. "You should be resting, Kira…"
In the stands, Ritchie froze, jealousy stabbing his chest like a dagger. He clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles went white, the image of Kira in Ray's arms burning into his mind. Without another word, he turned and walked away in silence, his defeat weighing heavily on his shoulders.
The cameras zoomed back onto Ray and Kira, the commentators' voices overflowing with excitement:
"What brilliance! Ray didn't just defeat Pikachu—he dismantled Ritchie's entire strategy!""And look at that Substitute! That was the key—baiting Thunder and striking when Pikachu was most vulnerable.""Incredible! For a trainer so young, his tactical brilliance makes it seem like he's been competing for decades!"
The audience roared, chants of "RAY! RAY! RAY!" echoing across the stadium. His family rushed down to embrace him.
Ray stood tall, Pidgeot spreading its wings wide beside him. To the world, this looked like a crushing, flawless victory—but Ray knew the truth. The margin had been razor thin. The victory had not come from sheer power, but from the invisible threads of strategy he had woven from the start.